Electrolytic apparatus.



No. 715,281. Patent ed Dec. 9, I902.

J. MATTHEWS &. W. DAVIES.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheats-$haet L F IC, 2..

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Patented Dec. 9, i902.

J. M ATTHEWS & W. DAVIES.

' ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

(Applicatien filed Mar. 29, 1901.: (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WIT WES3ES." I I Patented Dec. 9, I902, J. MATTHEWS &.' W. DAVIES. I

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

[Application filed Mar.- 29, 1901.)

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WITNESSES;

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UNITED STATES JOSEPH MATTHEXVS, OF KINGS HEATH, AND VVILLIAM'DAVIES, OF SELBY PARK, ENGLAND.

ELECTROLYTlC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,281, dated December 9, 1902.

Application filed March 29, 1901. Serial Ila. 53,482. (No model.)

1'0 all whom, it may concern: pieces and which form the bottom of the tank Be it known that we, JOSEPH IVIATTHEWS, or vat/B. The sides of this inner tank or vat of Kings Heath, and WILLIAM DAVIES, of are also formed from a series of perforated Selby Park, county of Worcester, England, slabs h, the meeting edges of which are 55 subjects of the King of Great Britain, have grooved and formed so as to fit over the verinvented certain new and useful Improvetical girders b, the lower edges resting upon menis in Electrolytical Apparatus, of which the slabs 12 as clearly shown at Figs. 1 and the following is a specification. 2, thus forming a vat of insulating material Our invention has for its object improvein which the tinned scrap metal is stripped 60 ments in electrolytical apparatus used for of its tin. The bricks or slabs b b are prefstripping the tin from scrap tinned metal or erably made of terra-cotta. the like by which considerable saving in Mountedin the bearings d,fitted centrally power and economy is effected. on each side of the tank A and insulated Our apparatus consists of a circular or therefrom, is the shaft or axle d upon which 65 I5 curved bottomed vat or tank which is so conthe drum is fixed. This drum is formed with structed inside an ordinary tank as to be inthe metal hub d and is provided with an sulated from the metal supports or exterior. outer circular face made in sections (1 of in- 1 In order that our invention may be more snlating material of terra-cotta, fixed to the clearly understood and easily carried -into iron rods d which pass throughthem, radi- 7o practical efiect, we have appended hereunto ating from the hub C13. The sections (1- are sheets of drawings upon which we have illusfixed upon these rods by the lock-nuts cl or trated examples of our apparatus for striptheir equivalents. This insnlated'outer part ping tin from scrap metal. 61 of the drum keeps the metal from rising Figure 1 is a plan View of one form of the too high in the tank during the operation of 75 apparatus. Fig. 2 is apart-longitudinal secstripping the tin. The tank is now filled tional view of the apparatus shownfin Fig. 1. with a solution adapted to remove the tin Fig. 3 is a view showing a slightly-modified from the scrap metal, consisting of caustic form of our apparatus. Fig. leis a crosssecpotash and protochlorid of tin or any other tional view of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are desolution suitable for depositing tin which is 8o tail views showing a portion of the wall of the heated to a little under boiling-point. A curtank, the bearing for supporting the drum, rent of electricity also passes through the and a part of the electrical connections. electrolyte or tinning solution, tinned scrap In carrying our invention into practice we metal, and perforated sides and bottom of construct or fit in the interior of the ordinary the tank in the well-known manner. The 85 tank A the curved or circular bottomed tank hopper E is fitted at the front end of the tank, or vat B, which is insulated from the metal and when the scrap tinned metal is placed supportsin the following manner: The frameinto this hopper it is carried around by the work of this inner vat or tank B consists of radiating arms or rods d as the drum D is a number of metal vertical supports .h of driven around or caused to revolve from any 90 4o girder T or other section. These vertical convenient source and then discharged into supportsh,whichfitagainstthesidesin theinthe hopper F, fitted at the opposite end of terioroftheoutertank,areconnectedtogether the tank. In order to insure all the scrap by the curved pieces of angle iron or steel Z7 tinned metal being agitated, we may fix to which cross the vertical supports b inside the the arms or rods (1 the adjustable fingers d 5 tank and constitute a hearing or support for or their equivalents. The tin asitis stripped the insulated bottom. The vertical supports from the scrap tinned metal goes into solub are also preferably bolted or riveted or tion and escapes through the perforations in screwed to the sides of the outer tank A. the tank or vat B and is deposited on the Placed upon the curved angle-pieces b are a sides and bottom of the outer vat or tank A I00 series of perforated slabs or bricks b raband also through holes into the pocket or beted at the edges, which rest upon the anglesmaller tank H, fitted at one end of the tank apparatus.

A. The metal is dissolved in the solution, and as this is in a continuous state of agitation and is free to flow through the perforations in the tank or vat B and into the pocket or smaller tank H it is deposited on the sides of the tanks.

In Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 we have shown a slightly-modified form of our e'lectrolytical In this case instead of utilizing the tank A as a medium for the return-current We use cathodes. These cathodes K, which are made of strips or plates of copper,

lead or tin, or other suitable metal, copper being preferred, are fitted into the cells or holders J, suspended or placed in the solution, the cathodes being connected by the wires 7c to the rod or tube R, fitted under the flange along the side of the tank A and insulated therefrom, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The cells or holders J may be made of terra-cotta, glazed porcelain, or any other suitable material upon which the solution has no effect, and they are formed with the well or pocket j at the base for catching or holding any granulated tin that may fall from the cathodes. which the tin has been stripped, passes from the hopper F into another hot-water vat or tank for cleaning or washing the solution from it, and. this stripped scrap metal can then be welded together and utilized again for various purposes.

In the case Where the tin is deposited on the sides of the tank the scrap tinned metal and the sides of the outer tank constitute the electrodes; but in the case where cathodes are used the scrap tinned metal and the cathodes constitute the electrodes, the scrap tinned metal in both cases being the positive pole.

What We claim, then, is-

1. The improvements in electrolytic apparatus consisting essentially of an outer tank or vat having an inner tank or vat of perforated insulatin g material with a revolving drum mounted therein having'a number of radiating arms or rods passing through and The scrap metal from supporting an outer circular face of insulating material with electrical connections to the cathode and anode parts of the apparatus in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as shown upon the accompanying drawings.

2. In electrolytic apparatus for stripping tin the inner tank or vat consisting of a number of perforated blocks or slabs of insulatin-g material supported by curved pieces of angle-iron and metal uprights of girder T or other section with electrical connections to the cathode and anode parts of the apparatus in the manner and for the purpose substantially as here-in set forth and as shown upon the drawings.

3. In electrolytic apparatus for stripping tin an inner tank or vat formed of a number of perforated slabs or blocks of insulating material supported upon curved pieces of angle-iron and metal uprights in combination with a revolving drum having an outer surface of insulating material and a number of radiating arms passing through the outer insulated surface with electrical connections to the cathode and anode parts of the apparatus substantially as herein set forth and as shown.

4. In electrolytic apparatus for stripping tin an inner tank or vat formed of a number of perforated slabs or blocks of insulating material a revolving drum having radiating arms passing through an outer surface of insulating material in combination with one or more cathodes mounted in cells or holders in the outer tank with electrical connections to the cathode and anode parts of the apparatus substantially as herein' set forth and as shown.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH MATTHEWS.

WILLIAM DAVIES.

Witnesses:

H. W. DENTON INGHAM, ERNEST HARRY SALE. 

